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LIMNOS (Lemnos)
....The Island of Hephaestos
....The God of the fire & the forge
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Sites
From what can be seen at Limnos today it is very difficult to overlook the significance of the island in the evolution of the prehistoric civilization at the North East Aegean Region. Many prehistoric sites exist on the island often preserving their pre-Hellenic names.
 ANCIENT POLIOCHNI is located on the eastern coast of Limnos, near the village of Kaminia. The ruins indicate the town’s destruction from a strong earthquake, which is asserted that it occurred at the same time as the volcanic eruption of Santorini. It is the only site, which has been systematically excavated and published. From the pottery remains that have been excavated the archaeologists have been able to identify seven different habitation levels. Poliochni was first inhabited during the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd millennia B.C. It was probably built 100 to 200 years before Troy. Originally the settlement was very limited but soon it developed into a fortified city, the first city that ever existed in Europe. The houses were built in clusters. In one of the last clusters a treasure of gold jewellery was discovered, hidden in a vase. It consists of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Some of them were intact, others were broken but all of them are similar to those found at the opposite coast of Asia Minor, in Troy – the famous treasure of Priamos. The findings of the excavations are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum in Myrina.
HAEPHESTIA (known today as Palaiopoli) has been settled since prehistoric times. According to Mythology, Zeus during an argument with his wife Hera threw from Olympus on to Limnos, their son Haephestos - the god who subdued the fire and created impressive works of metal art. The Sindians (mythological inhabitants of the island, who originally came from Thrace) took care of him. Limnos became his favourite land where he built his palace and set up his workshop under Mosychlon, a volcano at the centre of the island. To honour him the islanders named their main town after him and organised the Kavirian Mysteries.
From the excavations that have taken place it is evident that the town was inhabited from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine Period but it flourished during the 5th and 4th century B.C. Today all that can be seen is the remains of a classical city, including part of a theatre, sanctuary and baths. However the most archaeologically important area is the sanctuary dedicated to the great Goddess of Limnos (? Athena), which was in use between the 8th and 6th century B.C.
During the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century A.D. the first Christian Community in Limnos was founded at Hephaestia. The town continued to be the economic centre of the island until the 11th Century when the harbour became unserviceable and the Venetian merchants moved off to the neighbouring site of Kotsinas.
 ANCIENT SANCTUARY OF KAVIRION In 1937, excavations brought to light the sanctuary of Kavirio, which is said to be older than the one in Samothace. It was dedicated to the children (or assistants) of Haephestos, the Kaviri (Axieros, Axiokersos and Axiokersa) . It is located, 3 km north of Hephaestia at the cape of Chloe, exactly opposite the famous Kaveirion of Samothrace. A trench separated the findings. On one side the initiation hall is visible, a palace and an arcade. On the other side there is another initiation hall with twelve Doric columns from the Hellenistic Period. Many inscriptions regarding the sanctuary and the most significant towns of Limnos were also found here. The Kavirion of Limnos was well known in the ancient times. Celebrations (Kavirian Mysteries) used to take place here until the early Christian period.
CAVE OF PHILOCTETES. This is one of the most significant sights at the village of Kondopouli at the outskirts of Kavirio. According to tradition, the Homeric hero Philoctetes lived in the cave, which was connected by underground tunnel with the Sanctuary of the Kaviri. However this has not been confirmed since the cave now is located at the edge of a cliff.
 CASTLE OF MIRINA
It is an impressive Byzantine castle, which dominates Myrina town with extensive fortifications and remains of old buildings and storehouses. It is locally known as Paleocastro (old castle) in order to distinguish it from the Castle of Kotsinas at North East Limnos. The original Castle was build in 1186 by the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos Komninos the First. However the Venetians and Ioanni Justiniani built its enlargements.
For this reason often and quite mistakenly the Castle is considered to be Venetian. The older sections - excellent ex amples of Pelasgian polygonal wall building - are visible exactly opposite the main entrance, as well as in the interior. The present day Castle was re-constructed by the Ottomans, but on close inspection the sections built by Andronikos Komninos are clearly identifiable. Architectural remains of older buildings were used in many sections as building materials. The many additions and reconstructions signify the importance of the castle for the defence of the island and generally the control of the N.E. Aegean Sea. Today the only inhabitants of the castle are 200 deer. The Municipality of Myrna provides food and water for them.
CASTLE OF KOTSINAS Its remnants still visible at NE Limnos, were build during 1207 – 1214 by the powerful Venetian family of Navigajiosi. This fortification is the only one in Hellenic land found not on a natural hill but a manmade one. After 1440 the Gatteluzi family from Genoa dominated the Castle of Kotsinas. During the siege of the city in 1442 by the Turks, defence was organised by Constantinos Palaiologos, the prince who became the last Byzantine Emperor. His wife Aikaterini Gatteluzi was pregnant and living at the Castle at the time. Unable to cope with the sufferings of the siege she died and was buried somewhere within the Castle. In 1478 the Turks attempted to capture the Castle of Kotsinas again. This time Maroula, the daughter of the dead Greek Governor of the island, defended it successfully.
 THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING FOUNTAIN (ZOODOCHOS PIGI), which was built within the Castle of Kotsinas, was recently renovated. Since 1415 it is referred to as an independent monastery. Many people visit the church to admire its wood-carved temple and Byzantine icons, but also to visit the statue of the Limnian heroine Maroula, which is erected nearby. From the ante-temple ancient, deteriorated steps lead to the underground vault where a water spring can be found. The locals call it holy water, but it’s quite possible that this is what remains of an underground water storage construction used by the Kotsinas Castle during sieges. It is said that once upon a time a Queen of the island tried to hide there when her enemies were trying to capture her. When her enemies nearly reached her here, she turned into stone to avoid them. The story goes that to this day she confuses anyone that tries to count the steps to the underground vault. Sometimes they seem to be 84, sometimes 64, sometimes 57 and other times 51…
 THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY in Myrina was originally built on the ruins of an older church in 1724. In 1770 in order to punish the Limnians for the failed attempt of A.Orlof to liberate the island, the Turks destroyed it and at the same time hanged the Greek Orthodox Bishop Joachim at the wooden bridge in front of the Cathedral. Three hundred elders of the local community were also slaughtered at the harbour. In 1835 the Cathedral was rebuild by the Limnian ship owners. The decoration of the interior is quite impressive especially the wood carved temple.
MONASTERY OF AGIOS SOZON
It is located at the small village of Skandali, on the south east tip of Limnos. On the 7th of September a big festival takes place here. The landscape here is quite remote and sandy, thus it has acquired the name "Sahara of Limnos".
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